Armistice Day: Government funding for 100th anniversary

Ken Dickins (centre) at the memorial fountain during a recent Remembrance Day service with Bob Holloway and Max Tavener.

Armidale RSL Sub-Branch has big plans for a share in $50,000 in Federal Government funding being made available across the New England to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day next year.

Armidale RSL Sub-Branch secretary Ken Dickins said a share of the funding would help ease the financial strain on their commemorative plans for the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

“We have big plans for community participation next year,” Mr Dickins said.

“This funding would relieve some of the financial burden for those activities.”

The Australian Government will provide $50,000 in grant funding for local community commemorations throughout the New England electorate for the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in 2018.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said the Armistice grants recognise an important date in our nation’s history.

“Next year Australians will pause and reflect on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War,” Mr Joyce said.

“It is the day we honour the service and sacrifice of every Australian who served in the First World War and all those who have subsequently served.”

From a population of fewer than five million people, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914.

Every year on Anzac Day, the country marks the anniversary of day the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) landed on Gallipoli in Turkey.

Mr Joyce said up to $50,000 in total is available to organisations in the New England.

“I encourage groups in the New England to apply for funding under the Armistice Centenary Grants Program to mark this important milestone in Australia’s history,” he said.

Applications open November 11, 2017 and close February 28, 2018 and support projects or activities that commemorate the end of the First World War. Expressions of interest should be lodged with Mr Joyce’s Tamworth Electorate office prior to applications opening.

Members of Parliament will be required to create a Community Consultation Committee, whose role will be to seek the community’s views on how best to commemorate the Centenary of Armistice.

More information is available at www.dva.gov.au or by calling 1800 555 254.